Themes by tag: Kyiv

On September 14, the Security Police of Kyiv oblast invites media representatives to an inclusive and interactive theatrical performance for children with disabilities “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales”, performed by the Kyiv Classic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko.

The premiere of this special performance took place in the main building of the Kyiv Ohmatdyt Hospital on July 5 this year, just two days before a russian missile strike. So instead of continuing to cheer up the young patients as planned, the orchestra musicians had to perform the Requiem amid the ruins –  footage that was seen worldwide.

From the very beginning, the creators of the project planned to perform the show several times in Ohmatdyt during the summer. Unfortunately, these plans were thwarted by russian missiles. So, the Security Police of Kyiv oblast stepped in to help organize the event. Visually impaired children were invited to the performance.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.For reference: “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales” is a combination of musical and theatrical art with an interactive approach. The project is supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 11, journalists are invited to the offline premiere of the fourth film in the “Ready to Resist” series, “Shields of Kyiv”. The film is dedicated to the 112th and 241st brigades of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which have been defending the capital since the first days of the invasion.

“Shields of Kyiv” is a documentary created by a team of TDF Media military personnel, telling the story of key military positions near Kyiv held by the Territorial Defense Forces at the start of the full-scale invasion.

It is the story of the courage and valor of the soldiers of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade who, along with other combat units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, defended the capital during the active attempts of the russian troops to advance. This brigade gave birth to and formed the “backbone” of another combat unit – the 241st Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. During the early days of the great war, these brigades became, in a sense, the shields of Kyiv.

The film was made under the guidance of serviceman and director Akhtem Seitablayev. Historian and officer of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Alforov also contributed to the film. The directors of the film are Dmytro Havrylenko and Oles Katsion.

At the premiere there will be an opportunity to meet and talk with the filmmakers.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 10, the Media Center Ukraine will hold a press conference titled “Destruction of Freedom of Speech in Crimea: Causes, Methods, Results.” The event will delve into the deteriorating state of media freedom in Crimea under russian occupation.

The discussion will center on the second edition of journalist Yuriy Lukanov’s book, “The Press: How Russia Destroyed Media Freedom in Crimea”, published by the German Ibidem Verlag. The English translation of the book was presented earlier this year at prominent institutions, including the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, The Financial Times editorial office, London Metropolitan University, Oxford University, the University of Glasgow, and University College London.

The conference will highlight how the Crimean occupation authorities have intensified their crackdown on free speech compared to 2014, even leveraging Western media outlets in their efforts.

Participants:

• Yuriy Lukanov, freelance journalist, author of the book “The Press: How Russia Destroyed Media Freedom in Crimea”;

• Valentyna Samar, editor-in-chief of the Center for Investigative Journalism;
• Olha Skrypnyk, Chair of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group, co-coordinator of the Crimea Platform Expert Network. 

• occupation
• Kyiv

Lobby X, a social impact organization known for its recruitment efforts for the Security and Defense Forces, is expanding its services to support military veterans. The initiative has introduced a career counseling program designed to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce and find new professional paths after military service.

As part of the program, veterans will receive assistance in crafting resumes that highlight the skills they acquired during their service, preparing for job interviews, creating LinkedIn profiles, and identifying job opportunities with employers who offer veteran-friendly working conditions.

The counseling is open to all veterans, whether they have a clear career direction or are unsure of their next steps. Counselors will help participants identify their strengths, explore career and educational opportunities from NGOs, the government, and the private sector, and provide guidance in finding a new professional calling.

For reference: Journalists can arrange to cover the veteran career counseling sessions in Kyiv by prior appointment.

• Kyiv

Olena Savchenko, 33, once worked as a quality control inspector at a warehouse in Brovary, a town in Kyiv region. Her life took a dramatic turn when a russian missile destroyed her workplace, leaving her without a job. Refusing to be defeated, Olena found new purpose through The HALO Trust Ukraine, inspired by her husband, who has spent the last three years defending Ukraine in the East.

Now, Olena is part of a team dedicated to clearing her homeland of explosive remnants of war, helping make the Kyiv Oblast safer for future generations. Her efforts reflect her hope for a peaceful future, especially for her children.

For context: The HALO Trust Ukraine is the local program of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian demining organization. Active in Ukraine since 2015, the group works alongside Ukrainians to remove the deadly legacy of war.

• women
• Kyiv
• demining

On September 7, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration invites the public to visit the sites featured in its pilot project, Kyiv Region: Places of Memory. Participants will have the opportunity to explore historical landmarks tied to Ukraine’s heroic resistance and the devastation caused by russian occupation, accompanied by expert guides.

The project employs advanced technology to recreate key scenes from Kyiv’s defense against russian forces. Virtual reality installations at each location immerse visitors in the stark realities of brutal battles, widespread destruction, and the pain endured by the nation during the invasion.

The initiative aims to ensure the world remembers both the victims of the russian invasion and the resilience of Ukrainians. Organizers stress that the war crimes committed on Ukrainian soil must be acknowledged and never forgotten.

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

For reference: In July, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration began training guides to work at the various sites connected to the russian-Ukrainian war as part of the Kyiv Region: Places of Memory project.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On Saturday, September 7, Kyiv will host the fourth day of the Protasiv Yar festival in memory of Roman Ratushnyi. This is the final of four festival days that have been taking place throughout the summer on the Protas meadow in Kyiv. 

Among other things, the festival program includes performances by the bands MOVA and Vivienne Mort. 

A discussion “Freedom of Speech” will also take place.

Participants: Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI); Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the Holos party and head of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech; Danilo Mokryk, a journalist for Kyiv Independent; and Vlasta Lazur, a journalist for Radio Liberty. 

The discussion will be moderated by Sofia Cheliak, journalist and program director of the NGO Publishers’ Forum.

In addition, there will be a discussion “Ariadne’s Thread in Ukrainian Culture: From Our 1920s to the Present” and a lecture “Anger, Sarcasm, and Calm: Three States of Vasyl Stus’s Poetry”.

Journalists are welcome to find out more about the festival program. 

For reference: The Protasiv Yar Festival in memory of Roman Ratushnyi was founded last year by the NGO Protect Protasiv Yar and the Protasiv Yar community with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. This year’s festival was co-organized by the NGO Publishers’ Forum.

• culture
• Kyiv

On September 7, journalists are invited to the photo exhibition “Brave Faces”, which is part of the charity project for reconstructive facial surgery for military personnel wounded in combat, “Doctors for Heroes”. The event will be held in Kyiv.

The program includes:

– Presentation

– Social and cultural performance

For 2 weeks 24 portraits of 8 heroes will be exhibited in triptych.

The heroes of the portraits are servicemen and veterans, patients of the project “Doctors for Heroes”, who are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation after facial injuries.

The author of the portraits is Yuliia Ovsiannikova, a photographer with the Ukrainian National News Agency.

For reference: The event is organized within the framework of the project “DOCTORS FOR HEROES”, implemented by the charitable foundation Eastern Star with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation, in cooperation with Ukrinform, the state enterprise Crimean House, the charitable foundation Brave Faces and IMATECH MEDICAL.

• culture
• Kyiv

Mariia Ksondzyk is the daughter of a fallen ATO veteran, she worked as a journalist before the full-scale invasion. Petro Shuklinov also worked in the media in civilian life and was mobilized into the Defense Forces in 2023. When the big war began, Mariia and Petro joined forces to volunteer, focusing primarily on providing vehicles for the military. They select, purchase, transport, repair, and deliver vehicles to the troops – a mission Mariia and Petro continue to this day. In 2023, they founded the Nesemos Fund charity and later opened a donation shop, soon followed by a service station for military vehicles. Every month, Mariia and Petro attract numerous donors and work with various foundations that help cover the cost of vehicle repairs. Currently, the Nesemos Veteran Autohub repairs between 20 and 30 military vehicles each month. The team covers repair costs up to 40,000 UAH, and if the cost exceeds this amount, they seek additional supporters to fund the work of the Autohub. Besides, Mariia and Petro decided to open a civilian vehicle repair shop to get additional funding. The service station also operates as a veterans’ center, focusing on the professional adaptation of veterans, so that they can acquire new skills and a civilian profession. The civilian repair shop is scheduled to open this fall. Looking ahead, Mariia and Petro plan to expand their business by opening new repair stations not only in the capital, but across Ukraine, with veterans at the helm.

• military
• volunteers
• Kyiv

On September 5, a modular house will be unveiled in the Kyiv region, providing a new home for a big family from Kherson who fled the occupation. Dobrobat, a volunteer construction battalion, invites journalists to witness the near-completion of this significant project.

Ms. Olha, a 70-year-old teacher, escaped the war-torn region with her five adopted children. Dobrobat volunteers took on the task of building a new home for them. The family, who lost everything in the conflict, is now preparing to move into the half-installed modular house.

The event will feature both the volunteers and the family, offering a chance to hear their stories and see the completed work. Olha’s husband is seriously ill, and with her brother’s help, she managed to secure land in the Kyiv region where this new chapter begins.

• casualties
• occupation
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv